Flock cutting machine



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 zueni'r:

, Jan. 24, 1939'.

HAUGE FLOCK CUTTING MACHINE Fil ed June 18, 1935 4 Sheets-Shee t 2 A. HAUGE FLOCK CUTTING MACHINE Jan; 24, 1939.

Filed June 18, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3- 17' .6. m x, 5 Q I I i Q 1 WQ 3 g 22 E y I I g. 4 14 y 5' T I 2a? 2 a E .2 Z 30 r 4i 12 12, 12 E Z Jan. 24, 1939. A. HAUGE FLOCK CUTTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sh eet 4 Fild June 18 1955 Patented Jan. 24, 1939 Q I t u UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs FLOCK CUTTING MACHINE Andrew Hauge, Claremont, N. H., assignor to Claremont WasteManufacturing Company, a. corporation of New Hampshire Application June is, 1935,.Serial No. 27,180

8 Claims. 83-6) My invention relates to flock cutting machines. in a water cooled bed of prior known con- It has heretofore been proposed to cool fiock structions. Still another object of my invention cutting machines by cooling the outside of the is to provide improved means associated with the socket for the knife bed for the stationary rotating knives or cylinder and adapted further knives, the cooling fiow flowing always wholly to reduce the temperature of the blades of these 5 outside of the knife bed containing chamber and knives during operation of such a cylinder in a consequently never engaging the lags in said machine of large capacity, in such manner as to chamber which engage and carry the knives and enable continuous operation under conditions in which the latter are adjustably mounted; such 'which, with the water cooled cylinder previously 10 constructions being shown, forexample, in the known, would have resulted in firing the fiock. 10

Parent Patents Nos. 1,688,296 and 1,861,064. Still further objects are to provide improved co- Further, as shown in the Parent Patent No. operating cooling means for the stationary knives 1,688,297, it has been proposed to supply. cooling of the machine, whereby the bed and these water to the rotating knives on the cylinder at knives are maintained'at the desired low temis the same time that water is supplied wholly experature, together with improved means for ternally of the lag socket, as previously demaintaining the rotating knives or cylinder and scribed, to cool the knives in the bed. It is the flock supplied thereby to the stationary found, however, that while such stationary knife knives, at the desired safe temperature despite and rotating cylinder cooling means are effective the increasedcapacity of the machine; all in as applied to machines of small capacity, they such manner as to enable the machine to op- 20 are wholly unadapted to meet the requirements erate continuously over long periods free from oflmachines of larger p y, and p u a y danger of over-heating or fire, and in such manmachines wherein the quantity of flock operated ner as substantially to reduce the production upon is substantially increased and wherein the cost of the flock. These and other objects and number of knives operating upon the flock is also advantages of my improved construction will, 25

substantially increased; it appearing that, conhowever, hereinafter more fully appear.

trary to normal expectations, a proportionalin- In the accompanying drawings,, I have shown crease in size of the cooling passage means above for purposes of illustration, two embodiments described will not satisfactorily meet the situawhich my invention may assume in practice. 3 tion. In these drawings,- I

My invention has among its objects to provide Figure 1 is acentral longitudinal sectional an improved flock cutting machine which is of view of. a flock cutter equipped wih my improve-. large capacityand especially adaptedjto meet the ments, certain parts'being shown in side elevaproblems incident to heating of the machine and tion to facilitate illustration;

the flock during operation and the prevention of Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; fires resulting from over-heating. Other objects Fig. 3 is a sectional view on'line 3-3 of Fig. 1; of my invention are to provide an improved ma- Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the chine of the automatic cooled type described and cylinder casing, taken substantially on line 4-4 claimed in the Parent Patents Nos. 1,688,296 and of..Fig. '2, but with the cylinder indicated only 40 1,633,297, and wherein im r v means are in dot and dash lines and showing the inlets for 40 .vided to enable the machine to have substantially the cooling means;

increased capafiity as compare? with machines of Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the outside that constFuctmm and Wh h l cylinder cooling means showing the inlets and w lmpmvfid 9 means Pmvided outlets therefor, the cylinder being indicated in wmch cooperate m an Improved manner to dot and dash lines to facilitate illustration tain improved cooling results despite the in- Fig is detail Section on 1m 6 creased capacity of the machine. A further obh the c 01in water and knife ject of my invention is to provide improved cool- 3 grgg g thireim ing means for the stationary knives which are 5 constructed and arranged in an improved mana detail section of one of the cooling 60' ner relative to the knives in-thebed and adapted lags: for the Stationary knivesthe lag and the to maintain these knives at the desired low tem- Pipes leading thereto be n broken a o f il perature, in such manner as to enable the same ,tate us t in l t pa and the bed to be kept within safe 'temperature Fig. 8 is-an enlarged sectionalyiew on line limits under conditions which would fire the flock 8-4 of Figure 7; .65

9 is an enlarged sectional viewon line 9-9 of Figure 7;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the water connection to and from the'water cooled lags in the knife bed, showing the same as they would appear looking up toward the bottom of the maor casing 2 and relative to a series of cooperating stationary knives 3 carried in a chamber or socket 4- on a suitable base; the several knives cooperating in such manner as to grind up flock fed thereto from a'hopper 5 by usual agitating means 6 and a screw feed. conveyor 1 rotatable with the cylinder l and which selectively feed the flock to opposite ends 8 or 9 of the casing 2 upon opposite rotation of the cylinder I, while the ground flock is also selectively deliveredthrough end outlets Ill and II.

Referring more particularly to the mounting for the stationary knives 3, it will be noted that the latter aredisposed in a usual chamber or socket 3. Further, it will be noted that as in the prior construction mentioned, this chamber or socket is cooled by longitudinal water passages l2 and I3 passing along thesides thereof and by connected transverse passages I l passing under portions of the socket or bed 4, while between certain of the passages H, the knives are acted upon by adjusting screws l5. Attention is further directed to the fact that each knife is herein elongated and of usual cross section and has its base carried in a usual pocket I6 in usual cooperating upstanding lag members I1. Moreover, as shown in Figure 2, it will be noted that the adjusting screws -l5 are threaded up through a lateral extension l9 in'certain of the lags l'l and thatthe end of this screw acts upon the bottom or base of the knife 3 within the limits of the pocket l6. Here also it will be noted'that the knives 3 are arranged in two longitudinally v spaced sets, as shown in Figure 1, while two longitudinally spaced sets of lags I! are also provided. It will also be noted that the screws 15 are so disposed that one set of screws l 5 acts upon each set of longitudinally spaced knives 3 mid way between the ends of that set of the latter. As shown, lateral adjusting or clamping screw means 23 are'also. provided which are'disposed just above the longitudinal passage l2 and function to force all the knife blades 3 and their cooperating lags I'I laterally toward the opposite wall 2| of the socket I and thereby firmly clamp the knives between the lags in proper position in the socket. Thus it will be evident that while it is made possible to make the cylinder I and the stationary knives 3 cooperating therewith of une usual length, it is still' made possible to adjust the stationary knives 3 toward the cylinder I, as desired, and also to locate 'the same securely laterally in the knife chamber or socket and with respect to the several cooperatinglags in the latter. I More specifically considering the improved cooling means for these stationary knives, it

be noted that as usual the longitudinal passage l3, which is the passage connected to the inlet, communicates through the passages ll with the longitudinalpassage I2 which is connected to the discharge. Further, it will be observed that between these passages l2 and I3 and in the knife bed between the several knives and lags comprising the latter, improved cooling means are pro-- vided. Herein these means include improved cooling lags, generally indicated at 22, and shown in detail in Figures 8 and 9. As shown, each of these lags is substantially larger than the lags I! previously described. Further, it will be observed that each of these lags 22, while provided with a portion- 23 corresponding to the portions l9 and otherwise corresponding in shape to lags I1, is additionally provided with a longitudinally extending water passage 24 of substantialwidth at its top and having a narrower lower portion 25. Herein also, it will be observed that knife adjusting screws l5 are disposed through lateral bottom lugs 23 on each of these lags 22 and that each has connected thereto near opposite ends thereof, an inlet pipe 26 and an outlet pipe 21, as 1 shown in Figure '7. Further, the several lags 22 are so spaced from one another and the longitudinal passages l2, l3 and across the stationary knife bed as effectually to cool the latter. ,For example, in this illustrative construction, each outside cooling lag 22 is spaced by two knife blades and uncooled lags from its adjacent longitudinal passage l2 or I 3, while the two intermediate cooling lags 22 are each equally spaced by four knife blades and their usual uncooled lags from these outside cooling lags and from one another. With these two sets of longitudinally spaced water cooled lags 22, one on each side of the longitudinal center line of the bed, and with the passages l2, l3 and the transverse passages II, it will be apparent that not only will the bottom and side walls of the chamber 3 be effectivelycooled, but

cooled lags 22, are preferably supplied from a common water supply, herein indicated at 28. Referring to Figure 6, it will be noted that this pipe 28 is connected through a pipe 29 with the first transverse passage I, while the other passages ll are connected at their ends in such manner as to establish the usual flow therebetween and to an outlet pipe3ll, herein connecteddiagonally cppo-.

site the pipe 29 to the last transversepassage l3.

Herein also, it will be noted that, as shown in Figure 6, the inlet pipes 26 for the water cooled lags 22 are adjacent one another near the center of the bed, while the outlet pipes 21 are at oppositeends of the bed. Moreover, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 10, the water main 28 is connected through a pipe 3| with a common transverse pipe or manifold 32, herein disposed below. the space the outlet pipes-21 in each set'are connected to common discharge pipes 33, one pipe 33 being provided at each end, and'these pipes 33 are also connected to a common outlet connection 33. Thus it will beapparent that the cooling water between the spaced ends of the longitudinally .spaced sets of lags H, the lag inlet pipes 28 being connected to this pipe 32 and branching from opposite sides thereof. Also, as shown in FlgurelO,

will-flow from the main 28, not only through the various passages I2, I3 and I4, and emerge through outlet 30, but that the same will flow from the same main through the pipe 3! and in-.

closed by suitably attached plates 38 having axial water passage means 33 and 40 therein, of which the passage 39 is connected through an inlet pipe 4| while the passage 40 forms a discharge outlet leadingto an outlet pipe 42. Here, of course, it will be understood that since the members 38 rotate with the cylinder I in the bearings 43 for the latter, a usual water tight connection 44 will be provided between these rotating parts and the stationary piping 4i, 42, but which need not be described herein. Further, it will be noted' that the inlet U is connected to the water supply pipe 25, and understood that the outlet pipe 42 is also suitably connected to a common outlet pipe, and to which the pipes 30 and 34 are also connected. Cooperating with the water cooled cylinder I in this present construction is also a plurality of improved coolingv means disposed externally of the cylinder and inside the cover or casing 2. Herein, these means are in the form of two copper tube cooling units 45 and 46, each of which is carried by the cover 2 and comprises a plurality of parallel lengths of pipe. of these units, the unit 45 is connected through an inlet 41 at its bottom with the main 28, and comprises a series of horizontal pipes 45 disposed in parallel relation and connected to vertical terminal pipes 49 and 50 at their opposite ends, of which the pipe 50 is connected to a suitable outlet 5i. Here it will be observed that the terminal pipes 49 and 50 are bent in the form of like arcs conforming to the curvature of the casing 2 and cylinder I, as shown in Figure 2. Further, the pipes 45 are substantially equally spaced from the cover 2 and from the knives 52 on the cylinder I and it will also be noted that the bottom pipe 48 is spaced slightly above the top wall of the passage I3 and that the several pipes 45 are spaced from one another by substantial distances. As regards the unit 45, the same is of generally similar structure to the unit 45. However, only the upper. end 53 of this unit is i curved to conform to the curvature of the cylinder I and casing 2, boththe casing and this unit 45 herein being provided with straight depending portions 54 and 55, respectively. Here attention is also directed to the fact that, although the several pipes 55 are spaced from one another as are the pipes 48 on the unit 45, the bottommost one of these pipes 55 is closely adjacent the depending portion 54 on the cover, while the bottommost three are also substantially closer to the knives 52 on the cylinder I than-the corresponding pipes on unit 45. Attention is further directed to the fact that each of the copper units 45 and 45 is provided with a bottom inletand a top outlet. which top outlets are preferably con- 70 nected to the common discharge outlet heretofore described. As a result of this construction, it will be noted that the flock in the casing 2 and between the same and the water cooled cylinder I;

is further cooledby thecirculating water in the 1 units 45, 45,at the same time that the temperatures of the cylinder I and casing 2, and the base carrying the passages I2 and I3, as well as the knives 3 and lags carrying the latter, are all correspondingly lowered.

In the use of the flock cutter, it will be understood that as the cylinder I is rotated by suitable power connections (not shown), the feeding mechanism 5, I will be driven from the cylinder shaft and that the cylinder I will be reciprocated back and forth in a 'well known manner, both the feeding drive and the reciprocation of the cylinder being effectedthrough the mechanism generally shown at the right in Figure i. It will also be understood that as the flock to be ground is supplied to the hopper 5, the same is fed there-' from by the agitating means and screw' conveyor I in a well knownmanner to the selected end of the cylinder I, depending upon the direction of rotation of the latter. Further, it will be noted that as the flock is so fed, the same is acted upon by the pipes 48 in the copper units 45 and 46 in such manner as to some extent to pre-cool the flock before grinding while keeping down the temperature of the casing 2 and the cylinder I and the other parts in contact with the'flock.

Also. the cylinder I is being simultaneously cooled by the flow of circulating water through the inlet connection 39 and into the hollow chamber within the cylinder and out through the outlet 40. At the same timethat both of the above cooling means are functioning, cooling water is also flowing in the passages I3, I4 and I2 in such manner as further to cool the base and keep down the temperature of the flock and cylinder, as well as the walls of the stationary knife bed socket 4 and also the bottom of that socket and the-lags and knives therein. Moreover, through the provision of the improved water cooled lags 22 having the water passages 24therein. it will be observed that the lags in the socket 4 and the stationary knives 3 are directly cooled by these water cooled lags, thetemperature of "which is, of

course kept down by the circulation of the cooling I water therethrough.

As a. consequence of my improvements, it is found that it is possible to make the machine in large sizes with a capacity as large as twenty times that of previous machines, and yet to operate the same at the desired knife speed without causing fires or objectionable discoloration of the product due to overheating, all in such manner as materially to reduce the costs as compared with those where a number of smaller machines is required to effect the same production. Moreover,

it is possible so to continue to operate it for long .losses, etc., but also substantially to halve the labor costs.

Attention is further directed to the large num- I ber of stationary knives capable of being provided 7 in my improved construction to increase the capacity while keeping the flock within a proper temperature limit, and also to the reduction in the speed of rotation of the cylinder which, due to the large diameter of the latter, is made possible while obtaining the desired knife speed and both increased capacityand proper flock cooling.

Further, it will be evident that both the copper tubing in the casing and the improved water I cooled lags will cooperate to reduce the temperature of the flock in a most eflective manner 5 through direct engagement of all sides of the tubing therewith, and through effective cooling of the stationary knives by the improved lags, while both this tubing and these lags will also cooperate with the water cooled cylinder and the stationary transverse and longitudinally cooling passages in such a manner as to effect a substantial further reduction in the flock temperature. It will also be noted that, due to the central inlet for the water cooled lags, a very efiicient cooling water flow is maintained and that the efiectiveness of the copper tubing in the casing is also increased by the bottom inlets and topoutlets thereof.

As a result of the plurality of longitudinally spaced water cooled lags, it is also made possible to produce more practical castings for large size machines, but it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the use of such. multiple lags or to the use of my improved lag construction in such sizes as torequire the provision of 35 longitudinally divided lags. Further, as regards the flow of cooling fluid through the lags and the copper tubing, it will also be understood that while the flows described are advantageous, I do not wish to be limited thereto, since it is evident a. that the improved structures may be usedwith reversed flows. Attention is further directed to the fact that while I have shown the socket l as filled with two series of lags, each occupying half of the socket and the two series abuttingalong the a longitudinal'center line of the machine, I do-not wishto be limited to any particular arrangement of the lags in the socket, it being understood that this arrangement is subject to variations in order to meet new conditions andto accommodate difg. ferent numbers of stationary knives, as necessary. In Figure ll l'have shown a modified water cooled lag arrangement which may be used if desired; In that figure, it will be noted that instead of having the water cooled lags 22 spaced from one another by uncooled lags, as previously described, all of the lags in the socket 4 are water cooled with the exception of end lags 51 and 58. As a result of this construction, the number of stationary knives 3 is decreased due to the necessity for utilizing the wider water cooled lags. Also, it will be observed that all of these lags are connected by pipes 26 to an inlet similar to that shown in Figure 3, but with eleven such inlets shown herein, as distinguished from the four shown in the latter ,flgure. Here, of course, it will also be understood that the flow connections for the lags constructed as shown in Figure liare preferably the same as those shown in Figure 10. In-this construction, while some reduction in ca- .0 pacity results from the reduction in the number of stationary knives, it will be noted that as a result of the increased cooling effect obtained, it

i is also possible to reduce materially the need for other cooling of the bed and, in some instances,-

65 to eliminate need for further cooling of the latter.

While I have in this application specifically described certain forms which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms are chosen for purposes of illustration 70 and that the inventionmay be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing fromits spirit or the scope .ofxthe appended claims. A

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a'fiock cutter, a rotary cutter, stationary knives disposed transversely to the direction of rotation of said cutter and cooperating therewith, a plurality of separate elongated lag means. supporting said'knives in heat conducting relation" and extending; longitudinally thereof, means for adjusting said knives relative to said cutter, and

temperature controlling means associated with said rotary cutter and knives for maintaining the flock below the igniting point during theoperation of said cutter including cooling fluid passages extending lengthwise of said knives substantially throughout the length thereof and having sufficient cross section for circulating sufficient cooling fluid to cool said lag members and said knives supported thereon and disposed in a suflicient number of said lag means adjacent the knives thereon to cool the lag means and the knives, and fluid inlet and outlet means for said passages for introducing and withdrawing a stream of cooling fluid. 1 4

2. In a flock cutter, a rotary cutter, stationary knives disposed transversely to the direction of rotation of said cutter and cooperating therewith, a plurality of separate lag members supporting said knives in heat conducting relation and ex- I tending longitudinally thereof, means for adjusting said knives relative to said cutter, temperature controlling means associated with said knives for maintaining the flock below the igniting point during the operation of said cutter including cooling fluid passages extending substantially throughout the length of said knives and longitudinally of said lag members and within the latter having sufficient cross section for circula'ting suflicient cooling fluid to cool said lag members and said knives supported thereby, and separate inlet and outlet connections. to each of said passages and on opposite ends of said lag members for introducing and withdrawing a stream of 40 cooling fluid.

3. In a flock cutter, a rotary cutter, stationary knivesdisposed transversely to the direction of rotation of said cutter and cooperating therewith, a plurality of separate elongated lag members extending longitudinally of and supporting said knives in heat conducting relation and havingknife engaging portions on opposite sides of said lag members, means for adjusting said knives relative to said cutter, cooling fluid passages having suflicient cross section for circulating suiflcient cooling fluid to cool said lag members and knives and disposed in a suflicient number oi said lag members longitudinally thereof substantially throughout the length of said knives 55 between and adjacent said opposite knife engaging portions, to cool said lag members and knives, and fluid inlet and outlet means for said passages for introducing and withdrawing a stream of cooling fluid.

4. In a flock cutter, a rotary cutter, stationary knives disposed transversely to the direction of rotation of said cutter and cooperating therewith, and fluid cooled lag means for supporting and cooling said knives extending longitudinally sub- ,stantiallythroughout the length of said knives and in heat conducting relation therewith including a suflicient number of longitudinally spaced hollow cooling lag members having cooling passages thereinu extending longitudinally thereof substantially throughout the length of said lag membersand of said knives disposed adjacent the latter and of suflicient cross section to circulate suflicient cooling fluid to coolsaid lag 75 members and said knives and also having fluid inlet and outlet connections for said passages.

5. In a flock cutter, a rotary cutter, stationary knives disposed transversely to the direction of rotation of said cutter and cooperating therewith, fluid cooled lag means extending longitudinally of said knives in heat conducting relation therewith and including a plurality of series of longitudinally spaced hollow cooling lag members having cooling passages therein extending longitudinally thereof substantially throughout the length of said lag members and of said knives and disposed adjacent the latter and of suflicient cross section to circulate suflicient cooling fluid to cool said lag members and said knives, and inlet and outlet connections for said passages including an inlet manifold extending transversely between said series of lag members.

6. In a rotary cutter, a stationary knife carrying bed having a socket, cooling fluid passage forming means in said bed and external of said socket for cooling the latter, stationary knives in said socket, cooperating cooling fluid passage forming means in said socket extending longitudinally thereof and of the knives therein and comprising a plurality of lag members supporting said knives in heat conducting relation and extending longitudinally adjacent said knives substantially throughout the length thereof and cooling fluid passages disposed longitudinally substantially throughout the length of said lag members and in a sufiicient number of said lag members and of large enough cross section to circulate suflicient cooling fluid to cool the knives carried thereby, and fluid inlet and outlet means for said passages for introducing and withdrawing a stream of cooling fluid.

'7. In a rotary cutter, a rotary cutter member, a knife bed carrying cooperating stationary knives and having material directing side portions, a casing enclosing said rotary cutter, andcooling means extending above said portions in said casing and in the path of the material operated upon by said rotary cutter for cooling said material and dividing the same into a plurality of streams on opposite sides of said cooling means.

8. In a rotary cutter, a rotary cutter member, a knife bed carrying cooperating stationary knives, a casing enclosing said rotary cutter, and means in said casing for cooling the material operated upon by said rotary cutter presenting a plurality of cooling fluid passages in the path of said material between said cutter and casing at, 

